Combined pad holder and illuminating means therefor



Dec. 25, 1934. L, BLQSS 1,985,335

' COMBINED PAD HOLDER AND ILLUMINATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 16, 1933 5 Shee.tsSheet 1 Ilia-TL.

Mot/"Mao- R. L. BLOSS 1,985,335

COMBINED PAD HOLDER AND ILLUMINATING MEANS THEREFOR Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed D60. 16, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, 1934. R. BLOSS 1,985,335

COMBINED PAD HOLDER AND ILLUMINATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A f J4 e I e l o 1 EE-Y- Qwuautoz Patented Dec. 25, 1934 PATENT OFFICE COM BINED PAD HOLDER AND ILLUMINAT- ING MEANS THEREFOR Richard L Bloss, Manitou, Colo. Application December 16, 1933, Serial No. 702,762 14 Claims. (01.240-64) The invention aims to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient device including-a casing having a swingable cover, a writing pad within said casing, and means for illuminating the pad when writing is to be done at night or whenever the light is insufficient from other sources;

Switch means are provided for effecting illumination of a bulb or bulbs to which current is fed from a battery within the casing, and one object of the invention is to make novel provision to prevent any accidental closing of the switch means when the cover of the casing is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide switch means for the bulb or bulbs, operable to flash the same whenever desired, after opening of the cover, and operable also to effect continuous bulb illumination if required.

A further aim is to provide novel switch means by which current may be selectively directed to any of a plurality of bulbs, or may be simultaneouslydirected to all of said bulbs.

Yet another aim is to provide a unique removable carrier for the battery, bulbs and the switch means.

A still further aim is the provision of a very compact article which may be readily carried in the users pocket and easily opened and operated, whenever its use is required.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with the cover closed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing the cover opened. v

Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial top plan partly in horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail longitudinal sections on line 5-5 of .Fig. 4, showing different positions of the switch means.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the battery, bulb and switch carrier and parts mounted thereon.

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the switch means, bulbs and wiring.

In the drawings above briefly described, 15 denotes an elongated casing formed from any desired material or materials, said casing being preferably about six and one-half inches long, four inches wide and one inch deep. This casing is provided with a cover 16 hingedly mounted at 17 and normally held closed by a latch 18, this latch being applied by a suitable spring 19 and releasable by a push button 20. To insure proper reception of the latch 18 in the keeper 21 with which it co-acts, the cover is provided with positioning lugs 22 receivable in sockets 23. The cover '16 includes part of the front wall of the casing 15, parts of the longitudinal side walls thereof, and part of the lower end of said casing, but this casing is left with a cowl portion 24 at its upper end, which cowl portion opens toward the lower end of said casing. This cowl portion removably receives a carrier 25 for the battery, bulbs and switch means, hereinafter described, and secured to said carrier, is a spring finger 26 which is instrumental in holding a paper pad P against the back wall of the casing 15. This spring finger also has a tendency to urge the carrier 25 against the front wall of the cowl 24, assisting in holding said carrier in'place. It is held primarily however, by a switch-operating push button 27 which projects normally through an opening 28 in one side wall'of the cowl, and when this switch-operating push button is inwardly pushed to clear the opening, the carrier 25 may be withdrawn through the open end of the cowl 24.

A retaining finger 29 for pages of notations torn from the pad P, is provided at the inner side of the cover 16, said finger 29 being yieldably urged toward the cover by a spring mounting 30. One side wall of the cover also carries a clip 31 for a pencil 32.

The carrier 25 includes two parallel side walls 33 lying against the side walls of the cowl 24 and having projecting ends 34 which are accessible for withdrawing the carrier when desired. The front ends of these walls 33 are connected by a front wall 35 having a substantially U- shaped central portion 36 which carries two sockets 37 and 37' for illuminating bulbs 38 and 38'. The rear portions of the side walls 33 are connected by a channel-shaped cradle 39 for the battery 40. One of the side walls 33 carries a contact 41 to abut one terminal of the battery 40, and the other terminal of this battery abuts a spring arm 42 which is secured to the other side wall 33, said spring arm 42 being equipped with the push button 27, above described. The parts 33, 35, 36 and 39 may well be formed unitarily from bakelite or the like, if desired.

An insulating block 43 is mounted behind one end of the wall 35, in inwardly spaced relation with the spring arm 42. While this block could be mounted in any desired way, I- have shown it secured by screws 44 to the front wall 35, and by an additional screw 45 to the front wall of the cradle 39.

Disposed a the side of the block 43, toward the switch arm 42, is a contact plate 46 which is pivotally mounted on one end of a bolt 47 passing through said block. A switch plate or arm 48 is pivotally mounted on the other end 01' this same bolt and is swingable independently of the switch or contact plate 48, said arm 48 being manually swingable into engagement with one contact 49, or a second contact 50, .or intoengagement with both said contact 50 and a third contact 51, the three contacts 49, 50 and 51 being formed by the heads of small bolts which pass through the block 43. The nuts these bolts are within a recess 52 in the block 43 and these nuts are instrumental in connecting wiresio the contacts, said wires passing through an opening 53 in the block 43. One wire 54 connects with both of the contacts 49 and 51 and leads to the usual central contact for the socket 37 .01 the bulb 38. Another wire 55 connects with the contact 50 and leads to the central contact of the socket 37' of bulb 38'. A third wire 56 connects with the shells of the two bulb sockets and with the contact 41.

When the switch arm 42 is pressed inwardly into engagement with the contact plate 46, if the contact arm 48 be then in engagement with the contact 49, current will flow from the battery 40 through the switch arm 42, contact plate 46, bolt 47, switch arm 48, contact 49, wire 54, bulb 38, wire 56 and contact 41, and back to the battery, thereby illuminating bulb 38. Should this bulb burn out, current may be directed to the bulb 38', simply by manually swinging the switch arm 48 until it engages the contact 50. Should it be desired to direct current to both bulbs 38 and 38', arm 48 is swung to a third position at which it engages both of the contacts .50 and 51. I

An insulator '7 is secured to the outer side 01' the contact plate 46, and this plate is provided with a projecting arm 58 in the closing path 01' the cover 16. When the cover is closed and strikes the arm 58, it moves the contact plate 46 to such a position that the insulator 57 forms a barrier to prevent accidental pushing of the switch arm 42 into contact with the plate 46, so that the bulbs cannot be accidentally illuminated. A spring 59 however, is provided to swing the contact plate 46, when the cover 16 is opened, to such a position that the insulator 57 is out of the way, so that the switch arm 42 may be pressed by the button 27, into contact with said plate 46, enabling the operator to flash one or both of the bulbs as desired. With switch arm 48 in one position, only-bulb 38 will flash, with said switch arm 48 in the second position, only bulb 38' will flash, and with said switch arm in v its third position, both bulbs will flash, as above explained.

, The contact plate 46' is provided with a laterally projecting wedge 60 disposed toward the switch arm 42. When continuous burning of one or both bulbs is desired, the plate 46 is turned, by pressing against the arm 58, to wedge the projection 60 into engagement with the switch arm 42, and the bulb or bulbs will continuously operate as long as 60 and 42 remain in contact. The arm 58 of the contact plate 46 projects forwardly through a slot 61 in the carrier front wall 35. This wall is provided with another slot 62 through which a controlling portion 63 of the switch arm 48, projects.

Preferably, the bolt 47 which mounts the parts 46 and 48 for independent pivotal movement, is

provided with a spring nut or the'like 64 which serves to hold the contact plate 46 against one side of the block 43, and inwardly urges the arm 48 toward said block. Thus, not only is effective contact insured between the arm 48 and the co-acting contacts 49, 50 and 51, but suflicient friction is caused to hold the switchmeans in one position or another.

As long as the cover 16 remains closed, there is no danger of one or both bulbs being accidentally illuminated, for the insulator 57 will not permit the switch arm '42 to contact with the plate 46. As soon as the cover 16 is opened however, the plate 46 moves under the influence of thespring 59, to a position at which the arm 42 may be pressed into engagement with said plate to flash one or the other, or both bulbs, selection of the bulb or bulbs to be illuminated, being eil'ected by manually adjusting the switch arm 48. It continuous illumination of a bulb or bulbs be desired, the user presses against the arm 58, so as to further turn the plate 46 to dispose the wedge or the like 60 against the contact arm 42. When the cover 16 is again closed, the circuit is broken and remains broken until said cover is again opened and the button 27 manually operated, or the arm 58 moved to engage 60 with 42.

The pad P will be eil'ectively illuminated and may be conveniently written upon. Completed pages of notations may be removed from the pad and held under the finger 29, and may be removed from time to time, for filing or other disposition.

Whenever it is necessary to insert a new bat tery, the entire carrier 25 may be forwardly withdrawn from the cowl 24. This is accomplished by inwardly pressing the button 27 until it clears the opening 28, whereupon said carrier 25 may be withdrawn. This carrier may also be totally or partially withdrawn whenever it is necessary to insert a new bulb.

Excellent results are attainable from the details disclosed, and such details are therefore preferably followed. However, within the scope ofthe invention as claimed, numerous varations maybe made.

What is claimed is;

1. In a device 01' the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing when said cover is opened,

means for supplying current to said bulb including a switch having a manually movable actuator at the exterior of the casing, a barrier movably mounted in the casing and movable into and out of the path of said actuator, and means under control of said cover for moving said barrier to allow completion of the bulb circuit only when said cover is open. h

2. 'In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing when said cover is opened, means for supplying current to said bulb including a shiftable contact under control of said cover to automatically move to one position when the cover is closed and to another position when said cover is opened, and a manually operable contact having a control at the exterior of said casing for use in pressing it against said shiftable contact, and means movable simultaneously with Said shiftable contact for allowing pressing of said manually operable contact against said shii'table contact only when said cover is open.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing when said cover is opened,

means for supplying current to said bulb, including a shiftable contact under control of said cover to automatically move to one position when the cover is closed and to another position when said cover is opened, and a manually operable contact having a control at the exterior of said casing for use in pressing it against said shiftable contact, and an insulator carried by said shiftable contact and disposed thereby in the path of said manually operable contact when said cover is closed.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing when said cover is opened, means for supplying current to said bulb including one manually operable switch member for flashing said bulb and a second manually set switch member for continuously illuminating said bulb, and cover-actuated means for preventing operation of both of said members when said cover stands closed.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing when said cover is opened, means for supplying current to said bulb, including a manually actuated 1 contact, and a cooperable shiftable contact controlled by said cover to automatically shift to one position when the cover is closed and to a second position when the cover is opened, said shiftable contact being in inoperative relation with said manually operable contact when in said one position, and being engageable by said manually operable contact when in said second position, said shiftable contact being manually movable to a third position when the cover stands open and having a portion then adapted to conductively abut said manually operable contact. 1

6. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, an electric bulb for illuminating a portion of said casing. when said cover is opened, means for supplying current to said bulb, including a frictionally held contact plate pivotaliy mounted in said casing and a manually operable contact movable into engagement with said contact plate, said contact plate having a portion engaged by said cover when the latter stands closed for holding said contact plate in a position at which it is inaccessible to said manually operable contact, and spring means for tilting said contact plate to a second position at which it is accessible to said manually operable contact when said cover is opened.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, said contact plate being manually tiltable to a third position when the cover is opened and having a portion to then conductively abut said manually operable contact.

8. In a device of. the class described, a casins having a cover, a plurality of bulbs for illuminatingsaid casing when said cover is opened, and

cover-controlled means for supplying current to said bulbs, including a main switch operable when said cover is opened, and a selector switch operable when said cover is opened for directing the current passing through said main switch to any of said bulbs.

9. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cover, a pluralityof bulbs for illuminating said casing when said cover is opened, and cover-controlled means for supplying current to said bulbs, including a main switch operable when said cover is opened, and a selector switch oper able when said cover is opened for directing the current passing through said main switch to any or all of said bulbs. 1

10. In a device of the class described, a base having a cowl at one of its ends, said cowl being open toward the other end of saidbase, a battery, bulb and switch carrier within said cowl and withdrawable from the open end thereof, and a spring finger secured to said carrier and projecting toward said other end of said base, said spring finger being co-operable with said base to hold a paper pad against the latter and to assist in holding said carrier within said cowl.

11. In a device of the class described, a base having a cowl at one of its ends, said cowl being open toward the other end of said base, a battery, bulb and switch carrier within said cowl and withdrawable from the open end thereof, and a yieldably mounted switch-operating button carried by said carrier, said cowl having an opening through which said button projects accessibly, said button being inwardly movable from said opening when said carrier is to be withdrawn from said cowl.

12. In a device of the class described, a base having a cowl at one of its ends, said cowl being open toward the other end of the base, said cowl having a front wall parallel with said base and also having parallel side walls perpendicular to said base, a carrier within said cowl withdrawable through the open end thereof, said carrier having a front wall closing said open end of said cowl and two parallel side walls secured to said front wall and disposed at the inner sides of said;

cowl side walls, the longitudinal edges of said carrier side walls being disposed in contact with said base and said front walls of said cowl respectively, said carrier being provided also with a channel-shaped battery cradle behind said front wall and secured at its ends to said carrier side walls a bulb socket carried by said front wall, and means for completing a circuit from a battery in said cradle through a bulb in said socket.

13. In a device of the class described, two parallel elongated side walls, a front wall extending between the front portions of said side walls and secured at its ends thereto. a bulb socket carried by said front wall, a battery cradle extending between and secured at its ends to the rear ends of said side walls, a block mounted behind one end of said front wall, and means for completing a circuit through a bulb in said socket and a battery in said cradle, including one contact mount- 14. In a device of the class described, an insulating block, a contact plate disposed-st one side of said block, a contact arm disposed at the other side of said block, a single pivot for said plate and arm, said pivot being-a conductor and passing through said block, a plurality of contacts carried by said block ats'aid other side thereof for co-action with said contact arm. a manually operable contact spaced laterally from said contact plate to be pressed against the latter, when desired, and a projection on said contact plate to conductively abut. said manually operable contact when said contact plate is turned toa predetermined position.

RICHARD L. BDOBS.' 

